Québec commits to funding public transit studies

Québec’s Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Electrification André Fortin announced July 4 that the province will commit up to CA$$14.75 million to various transit studies.

Office of Mayor Valérie Plante

The Québec government will invest up to CA$14.75 million (US$11.25 million) for various studies to evaluate public transit development by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).

The studies will look at extensions of Montreal Metro’s Orange and Yellow lines, as well as the proposed Pink Line, which would connect North Montreal to downtown and eventually extend to Lachine. A possible Blue Line extension to SRB Pie-IX will also be studied. Funding for the studies comes from the Government Assistance Program for Public Transit.

“As the strategic plan for the development of public transit services progresses, the ARTM remains proactive and responsive to the needs expressed by municipalities and mobility partners. By working with these actors in an open process to determine the initiatives that can be studied and feed into the strategic development plan approach, the ARTM demonstrates leadership and brings together mobility stakeholders to develop a vision for public transit in the coming decades,” said Pierre Shedleur , chairman of the ARTM Board of Directors.

André Fortin, Québec’s Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Electrification, explained the important role community input will play in the development of future transportation plans.

“We work daily with the municipal sector to improve the movement of Quebec citizens. We believe in municipal autonomy to set the region’s priorities by public transit and thus facilitate travel and family life,” said Fortin. “A comprehensive approach is needed to plan public transit on a metropolitan scale. That’s why we work with the community to advance the projects it wants.”